Thursday, November 9, 2017

Hospitals urged in invest in better housing for better health

Where you live is a
significant predictor of health, and unstable housing is associated with a
range of health complications, including asthma, depression, and exposure to
lead and other toxic elements.

Not only is unstable
housing deepening these health disparities among vulnerable communities, it is
draining dollars from the U.S. health care system. Five percent of hospital users
are responsible for half of health care costs in the U.S., and most of these
patients live below the poverty line and are housing insecure.

Sandel suggests
hospitals create new partnerships with developers, investors, and community
organizations to invest in affordable housing initiatives, using Baltimore's
Bon Secours Health System and Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio as
examples of health systems that are using hospital dollars to build affordable
housing units and fund community improvement projects.

"When we think
about 'return on investment' for projects like these, we have to go beyond
portfolio profits or health care costs saved," says Sandel, who is also an
associate director of the GROW clinic at Boston Medical Center. "Most
importantly, we are building healthy communities, where families can thrive
financially and physically."

To make affordable
housing programs even more successful, Sandel suggests combining them with
wraparound services that include wellness initiatives, medical care, and social
services. Research has shown hospital stays and emergency room visits declined
when homeless individuals were offered stable housing and wraparound care. "We know this can work, now we need to determine the best ways for
hospitals to invest in housing on a large scale," says Sandel.